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Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic evaluation of sulbactam-durlobactam in a critically ill patient on continuous venovenous hemofiltration infected with carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii-calcoaceticus complex
Get PDFBackground: Drug databases currently do not provide dosing guidance for sulbactam-durlobactam in continuous renal replacement therapy. Herein, we present the first in vivo pharmacokinetic (PK) evaluation of sulbactam-durlobactam during continuous venovenous hemofiltration (CVVH) in a patient with carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii-calcoaceticus complex (CRAB) bacteremia and ventilator-associated bacterial pneumonia (VABP). Methods: A 59-year-old critically ill patient (body mass index 60 kg/m2) required CVVH and developed CRAB bacteremia secondary to VABP. Sulbactam-durlobactam 2 g every 4 h infused over 3 h was initiated based on previous ex vivo data and the effluent rate of 6 L/h. The sulbactam-durlobactam minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined by reference broth microdilution, and whole genome sequencing (WGS) was performed. Steady-state pre-filter blood, post-filter blood, and effluent samples were collected on three different dosing intervals to characterize plasma exposure and estimate the sieving coefficient (SC). Results: The sulbactam-durlobactam MIC was 4/4 mcg/mL (susceptible). WGS revealed penicillin-binding protein (PBP)-1b and PBP-3 mutations. The selected dose exceeded sulbactam and durlobactam PK/pharmacodynamic (PD) targets with 100% free time above MIC (fT \u3e MIC) and the ratio of area under the unbound concentration-time curve to MIC (fAUC/MIC) = 139, respectively. The SC for sulbactam and durlobactam was 0.68 and 0.67, respectively, and protein binding was 54% and 51%, respectively. Sulbactam-durlobactam monotherapy resulted in initial microbiological clearance for CRAB bacteremia but recurred later in hospitalization 11 days after sulbactam-durlobactam treatment. The patient was ultimately transitioned to comfort care. Conclusion: Sulbactam-durlobactam monotherapy dosed at 2 g every 4 h (3-h infusion) in CVVH achieved PD targets for this CRAB isolate with a MIC of 4/4 mcg/ml. Although sulbactam-durlobactam monotherapy resulted in initial microbiological clearance for the CRAB bacteremia, recurrence occurred, and the patient ultimately died
Pilot study of canakinumab (Ilaris) in steroid naïve children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy demonstrates safety and exploratory changes in potential serum protein response biomarkers
No full textBackground: Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a progressive muscular disease associated with muscle fiber degeneration and increased inflammatory responses including Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) and other cytokines. Canakinumab (Ilaris) is an anti-human IL-1β monoclonal antibody that neutralizes IL-1β. Methods: We completed an open-label, single dose pilot study of canakinumab 2 mg/kg subcutaneous injection in steroid naïve boys with DMD older than 2 years of age to determine safety and potential serum response biomarkers of efficacy at 4-weeks post treatment. Proteome profiling was performed using high throughput multiplexing aptamer SomaScan assay based technology targeting 1,500 unique serum proteins. Results: Three subjects completed the study with no adverse events reported and no significant changes in safety labs. Proteomic analysis within 4 weeks of treatment identified significantly decreased inflammation associated factors including plasma serine protease inhibitor, interleukin-6 receptor alpha, Lymphocyte antigen 86, Immunoglobulin D and myostatin. Significantly increased proteins included muscle-associated proteins aldolase A and lactate dehydrogenase B. Conclusions: Canakinumab 2 mg/kg dose is safe for children with DMD and demonstrated potential response biomarkers of efficacy in treating related muscle disease. Canakinumab did not affect the circulating levels of IL-1β but did decrease some key proinflammatory markers and myostatin. Increased muscle specific proteins could be associated with increased physical activities or damage seen in young patients with DMD. Further studies using canakinumab for a longer treatment period may demonstrate increased benefit
Stuck Behind Bars: How the Neglect for the Mental Illness Epidemic in U.S. Correctional Facilities Fuels Recidivism
Get PDFCorrectional institutions are failing to fulfill their responsibility for creating an environment that minimizes the suffering that mentally ill inmates face due to their condition. Various studies show that current health services in U.S. prisons fall far below the standards of adequate care. The criminalization of mental illness since the 1990s has continued to violate the “cruel and unusual” clause of the Eighth Amendment along with various United Nations General Assembly resolutions. This research will prove that U.S. correctional facilities are not providing inmates with adequate services, preventing rehabilitation and increasing recidivism. Regardless of how severe a crime, incarcerated people are entitled to their human rights outlined by both the U.S. Government and the UN General Assembly. Inmates deserve for the U.S. criminal justice system to protect their rights and serve true justice.https://orb.binghamton.edu/research_days_posters_2025/1007/thumbnail.jp
Micro-Encapsulated Phase Change Materials: Validation of Pressure Apparatus Design
Get PDFA method of storing latent heat is using Phase Change Materials (PCM). However, current methods of creating PCMs are not mass-produced due to cost and material constraints. A pressure apparatus was designed to run at 10 atm to incorporate Flow-Focused Coaxial Continuous Casting to create Micro-Encapsulated Phase Change Materials. This poster first, includes simulations in ANSYS Static Structural to demonstrate the safety of the pressure design to ensure it meets the standard stated by ASME. Second, simulations were done in ANSYS Fluent to understand the flow through the nozzle of the pressure apparatus.https://orb.binghamton.edu/research_days_posters_2025/1017/thumbnail.jp
Development of Method for Quantitative Assessment of Digital Pathology in Woodchuck HCC Model Using Image Segmentation and Image Processing
Get PDFHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer, diagnosed via imaging (e.g., CT) and histopathology. While CT is minimally invasive, it lacks cellular accuracy, whereas histopathology requires biopsies. This study aims to bridge this gap by standardizing tumor analysis in H&E slides using machine learning. Histopathology samples from woodchucks with HCC were sectioned, stained, digitized, and processed into 256×256 pixel tiles. Tiles were categorized, normalized, and split into hematoxylin (H) and eosin (E) images to enhance cell structure differentiation. The StarDist segmentation model analyzed nuclei, comparing automated and manual counts. Substantially covered tiles (SCT) were the most accurate, with an 91.7 % accuracy, while fully covered blood vessel tiles (FCT-BV) were the least accurate (52.12% accuracy). StarDist struggled with endothelial cells, possibly due to normalization conflicts. Future work aims to refine segmentation models and correlate histopathology with CT imaging for improved, minimally invasive cancer diagnostics.https://orb.binghamton.edu/research_days_posters_2025/1021/thumbnail.jp
Origins of New York\u27s Largest Kurdish Diaspora
Get PDFThe Kurdish community in Binghamton is one of the area\u27s largest and most diverse populations. This study looks into the reasons for Kurdish flight from their home countries to the United States, and the effects of Middle Eastern political and economic crises on Kurdish resettlement. To gain a deeper understanding of the community, the primary method of research utilized was conducting interviews with Kurdish residents of Binghamton. Additionally, a statistical analysis of the Kurdish Oral History Project furthers insight into Kurds in Upstate New York. The findings suggest that fear of persecution was the driving reason for Kurds leaving Kurdistan in search of a new home in America, confirming the need for supplementary research and awareness of Kurds affected by socio-political violence. Research suggests that while not many Kurds had a strong pull towards Binghamton, they have made it home due to the strong Kurdish community found here.https://orb.binghamton.edu/research_days_posters_2025/1057/thumbnail.jp
Renewable Energy Efforts Across New York: Levels of Effectiveness and Plans for the Future
Get PDFHow effective are renewable energy efforts in New York State and what more can be done to implement renewable energy sources? How have renewable energy efforts in New York progressed and changed over time and to what extent will future policy plans be successful? This project will review and evaluate the extent to which renewable energy efforts in New York are effective, and based on previous policy, to what extent the state’s renewable energy policy will prove successful. The effectiveness of these efforts will be assessed through a literature review examining the state’s Renewable Portfolio Standards. It will also assess the feasibility of entirely converting to electricity generation by renewable sources, as well as statistical data regarding New York’s renewable energy generation, energy-related carbon dioxide emissions, and fossil fuel use. This assessment will determine the effectiveness of renewable energy efforts in New York and the extent to which the state will achieve policy goals.https://orb.binghamton.edu/research_days_posters_2025/1065/thumbnail.jp
Complexity of Plant-Pollinator Networks Comprised of Native and Non-Native Plants and Pollinators in Relation to Land Cover
Get PDFPollinators are vital to ecosystem function. This study observed how plant-pollinator networks comprised of native bumble bees (Bombus) and non-native honeybees (Apis) change with tree cover and on native versus non-native flora. At 40 sites, flower visitation by Bombus and Apis over 15-minute intervals were recorded. There was no significant difference in Bombus and Apis visitation to native or non-native flowers (χ2= 3.57, p=0.06). Bombus visited nine native and six non-native species, while Apis visited four native and five non-native. For every 1% increase in grassland, there was an increase of 1.04 bees (p \u3c0.001). Plant-pollinator networks were more complex (# edges = 23) in open areas than forested areas (# edges = 6). Apis and Bombus shared eight flower species, three were only visited by Apis, and eight were only visited by Bombus. Monitoring native and non-native bees and their interactions can help us understand competition for floral resources.https://orb.binghamton.edu/research_days_posters_2025/1079/thumbnail.jp